EXTENDING INFORMATION TO FARMERS: CASE STUDIES IN INDIA
Understanding how farmers adopt new information is vital to successful extension programs. Yet delivery of local information to farmers in a reliable, timely manner remains a challenge. Any attempt to reform agricultural extension systems needs to start with a full understanding of farmers' information needs, as well as how that need is currently being met by extension and advisory services.
Focus group discussions with farmers. Source: Dr. Suresh Babu, IFPRI
- What information do farmers in this district need?
- How and where do they search for information?
- What factors determine their search behavior?
- How much are they willing to pay for information?
A second discussion paper, The Relevance of Content in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Initiatives in Indian Agriculture, looks at how these six ICT projects deliver information to farmers:
- Reuters Market Light (RML)
- IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative Limited) Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL)
- Lifelines
- Digital Green
- e-Sagu
- aAqua (Almost All Questions Answered)
These projects have all made an effort to reduce the expert-farmer gap by making content relevant, accessible, and reliable using local experts and farmers’ preferred communication channels. However, further improvements could be made through increasing user feedback, direct involvement of farmers, and ensuring open access to information stored within databases.
Download the full reports:
